In order to make your property stand out your watering schedule is THE MOST IMPORTANT part of your lawn care regimen. Watering at the wrong time of the day, with incorrect or inconsistent frequency, or improper duration can all cause serious damage, drying or disease to your lawn. Even if you don't notice damage to your lawn, you may not be running an optimal watering regimen to see the best results. Please do not rely on fertilizer and seed regimens alone as these regimens feed off of consistent water.
WATERING SCHEDULE AND TIPS FOR OPTIMAL LAWN HEALTH:
WATER EARLY IN THE MORNING
Aim to finish your watering schedule by 8am. Avoid watering during the night time which allows water to stay on your lawn for long periods of time without drying out which causes diseases to form. Also be cautious to avoid watering during the daytime after 9am which can cause water to magnify the sun's rays and burn your lawn.
WATER LONGER/ LESS FREQUENTLY/ CONSISTENTLY
In Early spring or late fall aim to water 1 to 2 times per week for 30 minutes per zone each time. During spring and summer water 3 to 4 times per week for 30 to 45 minutes per zone each time. Watering too frequently causes more opportunities for disease to form. Watering for not enough time (5 to 20 minutes) only wets the surface of the lawn where disease forms and does not allow water to soak in to the lawns root zone
CUSTOMIZE YOUR SCHEDULE FOR YOUR PROPERTY
Shady areas or areas that are naturally wet will need less frequent water for less duration. You shouldn't have puddles sitting in your lawn after watering. If you notice your lawn is oversaturated, start by lowering the duration per watering. Sunnier areas will need to be watered for a longer duration and more frequently to see optimal results.
WORK WITH NATURE
If it rains heavily 3 days of the week there is no need to turn on your sprinklers that week. Running your sprinklers during these types of weeks will do more damage than good. Most modern sprinkler systems have an embedded moisture meter and protection system to avoid overwatering. If its 90-100 degrees and sunny for multiple days in a row, you can benefit from adding an extra watering for the week.
KEEP THE SEASONS IN MIND
In the winter the lawn goes dormant and the natural water is sufficient. During the spring and fall your watering frequency should be greatly reduced. During the spring and fall months when temperatures are low (40-60 Degrees) watering 1-2 times per week is best. During hot/dry spells (85-105 degrees) watering daily is optimal.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN INSTALLED HOME SPRINKLER SYSTEM
If you don't have an installed home sprinkler system, oscillating sprinklers work great for small spaces and can be purchased from any hardware store or amazon starting at around $20. Tripod Sprinklers are better suited for large areas and can be purchased at most hardware stores or amazon starting at around $45.
IF YOU ARE A LAWN ESCAPES CLIENT AND HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON OPTIMIZING YOUR WATERING SCHEDULE PLEASE SEND US AN EMAIL AT LAWNESCAPESHELP@GMAIL.COM OR CALL OUR OFFICE AT 973-987-5040.
